Coupler



April 22, 1930} I A.. J. BENTLEY COUPLER F'ild March 22, 1927 avwahtoz Patented Apr. 22, 1930 ANSON J. BENTLEY, or NILES, onro COUPLER Application illed March 22, 1927. Serial No.

This invention relates to 'couplers for trailer trucksand has as an object to provide a coupler which may be easily engaged and disengaged but which shall be so constructed as to prevent accidental disengagement.

It is a further object ofthe invention to provide a coupler which shall possess the requisite strength and ruggedness to withstand the extraordirfiarily rough usage to 1 which such coupling devices are ordinarily subjected. l

Other objects and advantages of the inventioX will appear hereinafter. selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view. Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the parts of -the coupler as they are about to be coupled.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the parts in coupled position.

Referring to the drawings, the coupler consists of a hook member designated generally 5 by the reference numeral 1 and a link member 2, the said members being secured to opposite ends of trucks in any suitable manner. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the hook member is secured to the end 3 of one of the'trucks by means of the bolts 4 and the link member 2 is secured to the end 5 of the other truck by means of bolts 6.

The hook member comprises a fixed member 7 having a flanged portion 8 through which the bolts 4 pass and having a forwardly and downwardly extending prong 9 adapted for engagement with the link member. The fixed member 7 has a slot 7' formed finger 10-which extends over and engages the prong 9 in the groove 11 formed therein. The weight of the finger 10 is sufiicient in most cases to retain-the same .irnengagement with the prong 9, but a spring 12 is also preferably provided, one end of which is attached to the rear end of the finger 19 and the other end ofwhich is secured to the fixed member 7, the spring thus serving to additionally urge the finger 10 into engagement preferred embodiment of the invention" hook member and therein and pivotally mounted therein is a with the prong 9 to additionally prevbnt ac-. I cidental disengagement of the coupler.

The link member comprises a-fixed member 13 through which the bolts 6 pass and pivot ally mounted thereon is a member, preferably "a casting comprising a rounded front portion 14 adapted for engagement with the finger 10 and a pair of arms 14* and '14: which ex.- tend rearwardly forpivotal engagement with the fixed member 13. Between the rearward- 6 1 extending arms 14 and 14 and connecting t e same is arranged atransversely extending web portion 15 and diagonally extending web portions 16 and 16' connect the web 15 and the rounded portion 14. As will be observed, the web portions 16 and 16' serve to guide the prong 9 during the coupling operation and also form in effect a bumper against which the prong may strike in order to protect the rounded portion 14 and to prevent the link member from striking against the accidentally disengaging the same. I

In coupling two trucks, it is merely necessary to push the end of one truck having a .75 link member thereon toward the end of another truck having a hook member thereon. As the trucks approach, the rounded portion 14 of the link rides up upon the inclined upper surface of the prong 9 and lifts the finger 10, 30 thus causin the finger to engage the inside of the roun ed portion 14 as shown in Figure 3 so that the coupling operation is efl'ected automatically. In order to release the coupling, the finger 10 is lifted manuallyiby means of the ring 17 and the parts may then be disengaged. I 1

In pulling the trucks when thecouplers are engaged the pulling strain is communicated through thelink and throughthe finger 10, 90. the finger being, so arranged that the pulling strain thereon tends to retain the'same in engagement with the prong 9. If the trucks are brought to a sudden stop, however, the forward end of the prong 9 engages the webs 16 and 16' and prevents accidental disengagement of the coupler.

It will be understood that'the inventionmay be variously modified and embodied within the scope .of the subjoined clai'ms. 10

- I claim as my invention:

1. A- coupling comprising a hook member and a link member, said hook member including a forwardly extending prong, said link member Comprising a pair of arms adapted to be pivotally mounted and a rounded front portion adapted to engage said hook member, said arms and rounded portion being connected and strengthened by a transversely extending web and by a pair of diagonally extending webs, said diagonally extending webs forming a bumper for engagement with said prong.

2. A coupling comprising a hook member and a link member, said hook member including a forwardly extending prong, said link member comprising a pair of arms adapted to be pivotally mounted and a rounded front portion ada ted to engage said hook member, and means ormed integrally with said arms forming a bumper for engagement with said pronga i In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 18th day of March, 1927.

' ANSON J. BENTLEY. 

